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Need some advice here.I've a butterfly shaped line climber (Chinese origin) but haven't the foggiest idea how to set it up Made of bamboo and hand painted on cloth, it very beautiful and the wings' open/close mechanism is very smooth.Only problem is I can't find a way to setup so that it will trigger and slice down the kite line.

I will post some pix, hopefully someone here had experience with this climber and shed some light

Hey Patrick,First you are going to need a stopper on your line, I use a piece of old broomstick with a hole drilled through it. Pull a loop of line through the hole and pull it around to form a larkshead. You can put it anywhere on the line you want, the higher the better for the butterfly.

There should be two spring looking things on top of the slider piece. On one end of the slider there should be long curved piece of wire. The line will go throug the springs with the wire away from the kite.

On the back of the wings there will be little loops of string sticking out. Larkshead a rubberband to each loop and pull the ends onto the forked stick that points up toward the kite (I had to use two rubber bands on each side). This will fold the wings closed.

On the front of the wings there is a loop of string that goes from one wing to the other. Pull this string and the wings will open up. Pull the string over the large piece of curved bamboo. If you look at the front of the curve on the bamboo you will find a small hole drilled through it. With the loop of string held above the hole push the slider forward so that the curved hook of wire goes onto the hole. The wings will be held open. You can let the string rest on the hook. Center the wings.

The rig is now cocked and ready to climb.

Send it up the kite line. When it gets to the stopper it will push the slider which unhooks the wire which releases the string allowing the rubberbands to close the wings so the whole thing can slide back down.

I'd love to see pictures as well. I'd also love to find a place that sells these or a similar make. The cheap umbrella climber from Premier is so touchy and folds too easily in gusty wind. Without having to make one, I'd love to find a climber that only folds when it hits the stopper.

Gunther, the balsa airplane people used to make a cool plastic climber. It had a little propeller on it to slow the descent. I still run into them from time to time, infact I have three right now. They are meant for small kid's kites and won't work on heavy line.

You're right, your rig does not have a trigger and I can't see a sign that it ever had one.Some Chinese line climbers will use a lever that sticks out if front. Such a mechanism could be fashioned but it would not be quick and easy. Fashion a boom out of a stick or block of wood. This will attach to the front of the climber below the pully.Make a lever out of wood that is 3 or 4 inches long with a slot through most of the top half. At the bottom attach a small hook of wire.The lever will need to be connected to the boom with a hinge so that it can pivit forwards and back.A hole should be drilled through the climber below the boom.Line goes through the pullies and through the slot in the lever. The rubberband goes through the hole and hooks on the wire hook, this will pull the lever into the cocked position.When the climber hits the stopper it will push the lever back tilting the hook into an angle that will release the rubberband.I think

Sorry Zeke, I don't see that happening. If the tension relaxes when it hits the stopper and the wings close then what is to keep it relaxed as it descends. Once off the stopper it would return to the way it was during the climb.Another problem with this method is that the line would slide across the rubber band resulting in a cut rubber band.It needs a release mechanism.

Sorry Patrick, the thumbnail is all I've got. I took the photo from a Japanese web-site a few years ago for reference.

I managed to get a reply from a friend in China and here's the instructions. It says pop the rubberband around the bamboo and that's it! The tiny brass pulleys are really smooth, could be the reason that keeps the wings folded - speed - as it race down the kite line, just using my imagination.

Anyway I will try it (hopefully today) if the wind's up, I will take a video

I think Zeke is right, That rubber band is not at enough of an agle to re-open it against the wind.

I wonder does the butterfly also have a bit of a stopper against the bottom of that U loop that may help it stay in the open position? I'm thinking like the umbrella line poppers the inertia when it hits the stopper would bend the U slightly and also force the wings back and off the stop allowing it to fold back.

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